MacMullan on Scarnecchia's story

Columnist Jackie MacMullan writes on Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia and how he's been a constant in the organization. Now in his 30th NFL season, Scarnecchia is the lone person who has participated in all six of New England's Super Bowls.

Beat the silver truck to work.

It was an informal competition among the New England Patriots offensive linemen, a rare opportunity to pry some bragging rights away from the team's ultracompetitive, uber-prepared line coach, Dante Scarnecchia.

Scar's obsession with detail and skimpy sleeping patterns were legendary, which explains why his silver truck was a permanent fixture at the stadium. When the guys went home, Scarnecchia remained, sometimes as late as 4 in the morning, studying film. When they arrived the next day, he was already there, swimming laps in the pool or training in the weight room, fastidiously conditioning his own body with the same intensity that he challenges his offensive linemen to show.

Logan Mankins decided to beat Scar to work one morning. He pulled into the lot just shy of 6 a.m., but the silver truck was already there, its engine cooled.